Ten Fucking Years.
When I first opened Old School Wrestling on February 22nd, 2015, I had no idea what to expect.
Many of you have heard the story before, but for those who haven’t, let me take you back.
Before OSW, I ran a successful e-fed called the Internet Wrestling Federation. For four years, I poured everything into it—but at a cost. I struggled with depression, and in my pursuit of success, I directed my energy in all the wrong ways. I wasn’t great with people.
Then, life changed. I met my wife. I started seeing things differently. And so, I walked away from IWF. I helped my friend Josh launch RAGE, stepping aside deliberately, letting him take the reins. I wanted the community to thrive without me, and it did.
But you know how it is—the itch always comes back. A year or so later, I approached Josh, eager to return. He needed help running a second show, and I offered to step in. But he was honest with me: the handlers didn’t feel comfortable writing under me. My reputation, my personality—it didn’t fit their vibe. Despite my history, despite my consistency, I wasn’t the leader they wanted.
Josh, though, made an offer. If I wanted to start over, I could and he'd help me with hosting. Other than that, I’d have to do it alone.
And so I did.
I was watching Lucha Underground at the time, captivated by its storytelling and format. I wanted something different—something leaner, something sharper. A micro-fed made sense. A place where storytelling mattered more than word count. And if I was lucky, maybe, just maybe, I could bring in some of those handlers who said they’d never write for a Dean Mason fed again.
Laner, Zac, Hayden—you were among the first. Others followed. Cal came. Mel came. New faces joined. And what started as an experiment turned into a legacy.
Over the last ten years, we have written millions of words. We have crafted stories that could rival anything on television. We have lived moments that will stay with us forever. People have come and gone, as they always do. But the one constant—the one thing that has never wavered—is Old School Wrestling.
This isn’t just a hobby. It’s a commitment. It’s a passion. And above all, it’s a family.
It’s more than wrestling. It’s more than storytelling. It’s about the friendships we forge in the process. It’s about the bonds that grow stronger with every show, every promo, every late-night Discord chat.
It’s the live shows, where we sit in awe at the sheer brilliance of each other’s work. It’s the game nights, filled with laughter, banter, and the collective mission to stop Dawson from winning. It’s the feeling of writing something truly spectacular—the rush of nailing a promo, of delivering a moment that leaves your peers in awe. It’s the thrill of winning that big match, capturing that Championship, earning the respect of those you admire.
It’s not just another e-fed. It’s not just another online game.
It’s a home.
And you can’t replicate that. You can’t manufacture it. It’s not built by one person—it’s built by all of us, together.
Of course, there are days when I feel drained. When the grind—the deadlines, the graphics, the updates, the coordination—feels overwhelming. When I wonder why I keep doing this. When the inevitable frustrations creep in.
But then I remember.
I remember why I started. I remember the people who make this place what it is. I remember the moments that have defined our journey. And in those moments, I know—I wouldn’t change a thing.
Old School Wrestling is a part of my life, not by obligation, but by choice.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I love this place. I love what we’ve built. And I love all of you—even Matt. 😀
When I sit here and say, "Here’s to the next ten," I’m not just offering lip service. I’m not pretending I’ll keep going—I’m telling you that as long as I have you, as long as there are handlers willing to write under me, Old School Wrestling will exist.
For as long as I’m breathing and capable of writing, I intend to captivate and enamor you, for as long as you’ll let me.
There will always be an end. It’s inevitable. Some of you will be here next year, and some of you might not. Some of you may find yourselves here in five years, and some of you might not. But what I do know is that I will be here. Right fucking here.
For as long as there are people who want this, I want it too.
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has helped shape Old School Wrestling over the past ten years. From the very beginning, whether you were with us for just a few months like Q, or stayed the course for years like Brent Kersh/Pat, Rhett/Hysteria, and countless others, your contributions have been invaluable. Even those who are no longer with us—like Cal—have left an indelible mark on this journey, and they will always be remembered.
I also want to acknowledge those who might not have always been on the same page. There have been numerous over the years, like Marb, Jesse, Joe, and Sc00t. Even though they’ll never be welcomed back, each one of them played their role in getting us to where we are today, and for that, they too deserve recognition.
But above all, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every single one of you on the roster today. You’ve entrusted OSW and me with your time, your talent, and your energy. The fact that you’ve committed to this, with such loyalty, passion, and patience, means more to me than words can express. Thank you for your effort, your dedication, and most importantly, your friendship.
I’m not going to single anyone out because the truth is, each and every one of you holds a special place in my heart. Those of you with whom I share a deeper personal connection—know that I see you, I appreciate you, and I’m forever grateful.
There is not a single person on this roster I don’t have profound respect and love for. There is no one I wouldn’t go to bat for, 24/7, no questions asked.
Today, February 22nd, 2025, marks a monumental moment for us—Old School Wrestling is officially 10 years old. And we’ve come this far because of each of you. Together, we’ve built something extraordinary, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
That was a lovely, heartfelt message to read. I'm glad this place has managed to be a source of stability in your life, because let me tell you - it has been in mine too.
Now, I've spent much less time active in OSW than I have been inactive. Through health issues, confidence issues, just... Not being in a headspace where I can write (at least not consistently), I have not been one of the backbones of this place. Regardless, I have been welcomed. I have been treated with kindness and understanding, I have felt accepted despite my numerous flaws and slip-ups and this has meant a great deal to me. To be accepted despite me not being the best writer, despite me not being the best conversationalist, despite my jokes being about as funny as Oppenheimer.
This community that has come together around what you have built is incredible. We look out for one another, we listen to one another, we endeavour to cheer each other up. There is no petty competitiveness that often breeds around hobbies where there are winners and losers, just... Camaraderie. As you alluded to, back in the IWF days, you were probably not one of these guys, but nowadays, you absolutely are. It has been a real joy to watch you grow as a person and to grow alongside you, to watch the people who (like me) were wary of you realise you've changed and be glad to not just write with but become friends with Dean 2.0.
I'm sure there will be times when I step back from writing - the burnout might creep up, maybe my health takes a worse turn, maybe there'll even be something else I'll want to try my hand at and need the 'spoons' for (if you know Spoon Theory), but there is one thing I can say for sure - Even if I take a break from writing, you guys are absolutely STILL stuck with me in the community! You all are way too cool to not keep pestering. You will only be free of me when the Barbecue Rib Nation attacks.
Wishing OSW another prosperous 10 years!
I've said most of this before, but I'll say it again because this is one hell of an accomplishment.
OSW is the place where we each grew into a different phase in our lives. Marriage, kids, career... I've grown as a person and as I have grown into that aspect of my life, this has been the constant that is always there. A place to escape into a world where you can escape reality for a few moments, write something half decent as a way of honing those ever-present creative juices, and read some stellar stuff that others have written. It's a place where we've all grown as writers as much as people. It's always been a place where we have had each others' backs, where we've offered advice and learnt from each other.
OSW is older than one of my children, and mere months younger than my oldest.
I can vividly remember the week that it all came together. Still.
I was sitting in a shitty motel room. My brother's wedding. The first time we'd done any kind of traveling with Holly, she was a couple of months old. We put her in the car and drove for a few hours, and she got some kind of air bubble in her guts, and screamed for freaking hours.
A screaming child in a motel room. A wife who had disappeared looking for gripe water, in a town we didn't know... But there was Dean Mason, he messaged me saying that he had an idea, wanting to know if I was in.
We spitballed ideas, and he sent me a Hayden HardKore poser that he knocked up in a few minutes. We talked about the vision, the past and the future. It was always more than just a place to write. It was designed from the ground up to be a place that wasn't over the top with what they were expecting out of people. No 10,000 word promos to even have a shot at being competitive. No bias, just down the middle of the road judging.
Come in, be committed, and we'll be going long after RAGE is gone - I remember that...
As for moments, there's too many to list. I think of Lux's storyline probably the most fondly. The seven seals, seeing this guy who wanted to do good slip so far into a dark reality that he'd literally unleashed hell upon the world. And in the end, making the ultimate sacrifice to make up for it. That was an EPIC bloody story.
I think of some key promos that thrust OSW into new eras.
The early days of people wondering how on earth to even write a decent piece of work in 500 words - then we saw the Knife and Fork promo. And people went "Oh, that's how."
Suddenly, people started to build on the idea of themes. Making a promo something that unpacks an analogy. But over time, this had to evolve.
Cue "The Wheel"
Now, we have a theme, and we have history and storyline, lore being built into this - the twist at the end. People were inspired.
Then we met Edward Newton, and the game was changed.
A character who had unlimited potential for promos, because he could theme everything to exactly the basis of his essence as a character.
We evolved as we needed to, we challenged ourselves and others as we needed to. I know I'm a better writer because of it. Iron sharpens iron, and I've always wanted to learn from the best.
Here, I have and will always continue to.
Beyond all of that, I remember the people. Those that have stuck through thick and thin.
Hell, I've written in every show except for one I think - I took a week off when Timothy was born.
Why OSW? Because the people here are what makes it the best. It's not a dog-eat-dog place, where you're on an island looking out for number one. We rally for each other, we build each other up. That's the way I love it.
Here's to ten more!
When I first met Dean, I was fresh out of a divorce, standing at a crossroads in my life. I wasn’t just figuring out who I was as a writer—I was figuring out who I was as a person. OSW became more than just a place to tell stories. It became a place where I rebuilt myself. Where I gained the confidence to put my words out there. Where I found my voice, both on the page and in my own life.
I became a grown-ass man in OSW.
But more than that, I became part of something bigger—a family.
The group of people we’ve cultivated here is something truly special. The love and support we give each other, both in writing and in life, is rare. OSW isn’t just about the stories we tell—it’s about the connections we build. The brainstorming, the hype we give each other’s work, the way we lift each other up when we need it. That’s what makes this place different. That’s what makes it home.
Dean, you built something that gave me—and so many others—the space to grow. To be better. To believe in ourselves. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
Here’s to ten years of magic, to the people who made and continue to make it what it is, and to whatever comes next.
I don't think I'm very good with expressing myself for too long, but I'll give it the old college try anyway.
Why are you here?
Originally I was in the XWF writing 5,000 words of mostly nothing. This was back when they had no limits on RPs and were doing shows every week. Back when I was in high school and still lived in an apartment with a somewhat stable internet connection, I could handle it just fine. Once I graduated and had to leave the apartment due to losing a court case, I needed a lighter workload. That's around the time Rhett introduced a handful of us to OSW.
Although I hesitated at first, I found myself adapting to the 500 word, one promo a week quite quickly. It also helped that everyone was friendly and welcoming in the group chat, which made my decision to stick around a whole lot easier. I eventually decided to quietly leave the XWF and joined this microfed full time. Not only was it more challenging and rewarding to write 500 meaningful words over 5,000 words of whatever came to mind, I developed more meaningful relationships with the others too.
Why have you stayed?
Disregarding the reasons I shared above? I liked the stories being told in the fed a lot. From smaller tales revolving along the now defunct Hardcore championship, like Vinnie Lane vs. Ash Williams with the fake Necronomicon, to personal big breaks, like the formation of the Asylum, my first big break in OSW. Everyone gets a hell of a tale told at some point during their run and they're all engaging. Especially the main plot, which in Volume 2 saw a great evil being taken down by either a morally ambiguous person that ends up being revealed as a prince from a dead world trying to revive their home. Or in V3's case, a power hungry tyrant trying to maintain control over all of Arcadia through nefarious means while others try to put a stop to him either through a massive prison break or a civil war.
You wouldn't find stories like that in any other fed, and if you do, they wouldn't be told anywhere near as well as they're told here.
What do you love about OSW?
I love being a part of the community that we've built up over all these years. While we've seen many people come and go, those that stuck around have become great friends that my life would be worse without if OSW were to close tomorrow. I love how we set aside time on occasions to play games and shoot the shit with each other when we can. I also love how we try our best to support each other when we need it, such as when we open a business or write a book. It's moments like those that make us feel like more than just names on a screen.
It makes us feel like a family. One that I'm happy to have been a part of for the time I've been here.
What does it mean to you?
OSW means more to me than just a silly little wrestling fed. To me, it means that I get to express myself and hang out with people that love being here as much as I do. It means that I have an escape from the real world for a little while as I translate my doubts into words on a screen. It means a lot to me, and I'm sure it means a lot to those that have responded and have yet to respond too.
Here's to ten more years of OSW, guys. Can't wait to take the ride with you all for the big 20.
In all my years, I’ve never been part of an e-fed that has lasted a full decade... let alone seen one. That kind of longevity is rare, and it speaks volumes. I’ve only been with OSW for about a year now, joining as Master Ken in March 2024, and I haven’t looked back since. Coming from the GWF, where I played real-life wrestlers, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But OSW has completely blown me away. Everything about it is just that good.
I can’t be active on Discord, so I won’t pretend to know the depth of the community you’ve built there. What I can speak on is my own experience.. and from where I stand, this e-fed is something truly special.
I’ve been around. I know how rare it is for shows to go up on time, yet OSW does it effortlessly. Every Monday, without fail, there’s a new show, an updated card.. no delays, no inconsistencies. That level of reliability is almost unheard of.
OSW is incredible. Without question, it’s the best e-fed I’ve ever had the pleasure of writing in or being part of. The only thing I regret is not being able to engage more with the community, because it’s clear I’m missing out on something great. I love this place, though. I really do. It makes the difference when times are hard, or that creative spark is there. It's the best thing I've ever seen in the hobby, bar none.
Happy anniversary, osdub.
first and foremost, congrats and happy anniversary to osw, dean, and everyone who helps keep shit rolling. truly an amazing accomplishment and it cant be spoken to enough how one of one this place is.
plz excuse typos ahead of time, typing this while regrettably on the clock at work on like 3 hrs of sleep. but i rolled through about a year or ago or a full year to this point. i had really just gotten back into wrestling in real life but i realized it was to a point where watching it wasnt all that and so i wanted to pivot a little bit. so i just wanted to write about it but from the voice of my own character, like really getting into it. i had never heard of efeds and after some days of google searching random shit, i found myself on a subreddit for efeds, not knowing that an entire world and genre and history of this type of shit existed. and by chance, i came across an osw post there. it was like an introduction or advertisement post made by dean, and he has such a way with words of building something up and introducing shit that i couldnt help but click it.
i love osw the efed because it gives a platform for me to do something that i enjoy doing which is just writing creatively. writing about what comes to mind, putting figurative pen to paper and giving something life. it gives me an opportunity to do that but with structure and purpose. thats like one of the first words to comes to mind when thinking about osw - structure. everything has its own place, the shows are always out when they are meant to be, life permitting. theres something expected of you, like a responsibility. but it doesnt feel like that. all i feel is fun for lack of a better word, everytime i can refresh the site and see something new there to take in. and while on the topic of the website, the visuals were also a pull for sure. i mean the character art work, putting it all together on posters or on the cover of shows, i never seen anything like it. im so glad you were able to expand on that and create dread clothing dean, cause you really got a gift man.
i love osw the community for alot of the same reasons. the reliability, the dedication, and the moments/memories helped created by the members are also one of one. from the moment i came, everybody was so cool from the jump with some guys even messaging me along the way with words of encouragement. dean was also very quick to answer any questions i mightve had as were the members, so much so that i think im smooth outta questions now. the dedication is amazing as well. i appreciate the hell outta any creative team member and match writer because i really dont think i could help replicate the match yall do in my dreams. like dean said, it can rival the shit thats on tv and i really do believe that. there’s also just the perfect balance of competitiveness and camaraderie that everybody wants to win and they are going to put out some the best shit from week to week and really challenge you to do the same, but they also really wanna see you win. the chats during live shows really showcase that. with all that said, osw is definitely the place to be. im just grateful to be accepted and to have a spot here.
but thats why ill always come back and keep kicking it as long as im able to. i dont have a leave planned at any point in the near future because osw has really become like a mainstay in my life. and i dont take it granted for a second.
I have been E-Fedding since the 90s. I cannot begin to say how much OSW has meant to me. There is no place I've been a part of that's had this deep connection/community. I joined OSW a few years back, my brain can't compute the numbers right now but within a few months, I knew this was where I wanted to be. Because this place was treated seriously, growing up people would always talk about E-Feds like they were a lesser form of fantasy and roleplay. I felt like people would (to a degree) disrespect the effort that goes into our art, and that is what it is whether it's 500 words, 1000 words, etcetera we're putting out the feelings and emotions of these characters, no different than any other author or writer in the word. Our motivations may be different but crafting the perfect piece is always a difficult thing, and by joining OSW I felt like I was joining a group of people who "got it". Then to be able to join the match-writing team and be able to have another creative outlet and give back to a place that made me happy, I cannot begin to tell anyone how I feel when Friday night rolls around, and I can look back on the work I've done from Roleplay to Feedback, to Match, just feeling an immense feeling of satisfaction. I cannot begin to thank people like Dean and Laner for being the faces of this Fed and those like Hayden, Damo, and Dawson who're always there for me to bounce stuff off of. OSW is my happy place with people that I care about in it, and I cannot begin to tell you all what you mean to me just by being a part of it.
Much love and thanks,
Bryno
Well folks, 10 years means we are approaching 7.5 years that you've all had to put up with me, believe it or not, as I joined in Oct 2017.
I think the biggest compliment I can give is that even when taking my little *ahem* break *ahem*, I was still compelled to check results, drop by and lurk in the lives, and just generally wonder how things were getting on. And that is testament to how things are run, and everyone involved here.
I'm not going to get all soppy, you're more likely to get sarcasm than sobbing out of me, but I ain't going anywhere else. There is not a single place out there that does it like we do it, and this place has spoiled me for anywhere else now.
So well done to Dean, for providing the machine and keeping the machine going, well done to match-writers and creative, who are the cogs that help that machine go round smoothly, and well done to each and every handler that's had input into this place, for being the fuel that powers the whole thing. It really is a group effort that has led us to this point.
As others have said, it's not just about the writing, though that is a big part, it's also about the day-to-day. It's about being there for so many of each others' milestone moments in life - have we ever counted how many kids have been born during active OSW handling? I bet we're in double digits now even of the ones I can think of.
And of course, getting to know you all (well most of you) on discord and on game nights has been a blast, and I would definitely call you all my frie-
My fr-
My fffffffff.
Nope, still can't do it sorry 🙁
Here's to ten more!
It was around October 2017 when I was chilling in one of the old gang's spot, and my friend Robbie comes over. I'd moved down to the area full time rather than commuting, and was a bit exhausted when he started pitching me this writing thing. Talked about wrestlers and fantasy stuff, and being a lad that woke up at 3 AM at the time I was in and out of focus. I asked if he could just show me something, and I was immediately greeted with a Jake Jekel vs Santa Claus match, including both of the promos and the segment and match. From there, I was a bit starstruck. I didn't know a lick of what the wrestling stuff meant, but if I could read a juggalo beating up Santa, it was worth a shot at trying it out.
And from there, I've had a blast. From the early days of TAM to the hallmarks of Captain Arcadia, I've thrown all sorts of concepts at the wall and had them work well. From werewolf sailors to skeletons in spacesuits, it astounds me to this day that Dean's not had me thrown off the roster for what has to be a run for the money for some of the most bizarre characters on the roster. And yet, that's the charm of OSW! You can have some incredibly diverse characters, and no matter how strange the pitch the crew runs with it. You've got some fantastic people who all come together to create just a brilliant fucking community that can and will embrace you no matter how simple or bizarre the pitch you bring in is.
Even if you still don't know the names of moves all that well and haven't the foggiest on anything related to football 😉
The truth of it is, while I haven't been here the whole ten years, the fact that OSW has survived in terms that would be considered astounding to eFedding and most things that are online in general is a testament of quality. None of us would be here without Dean, or Laner, or any of the wonderful folks that regularly take time out of their lives to help contribute to one of the coolest things on the internet, hands fuckin down. You guys are the real MVPs, and help keep this all running. And for that, for being here as a regular weekly thing that has kept me focused and motivated, especially during some of the darkest times in my life? I don't think there's enough words out there to say how grateful I am for y'all.
Now, I've just gotta sell Dean on being a gorilla and I think we'll have had all the classic hallmark monsters of old gothic horror movies in OSW...